Art of manufacturing starch



(No ModeL) F. P. STIKER.

ART 0F MANUFACTURING STARGH.

No. 327,035. -atented Sept. 29, 1885.

WITNESSES @l Q y FLAVIUS P. STIKER, OF BUFFALO, ASSIGNOR TO THOMSONKINGSFORD, OF OSWEGO, NEW YORK.

ART OF MANUFACTURING STARCH.

SPECITFICATEON forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,035, datedSeptember 29, 1885.

VApplication filed July 22,1885. (No model.)

To all whom 25 may concern:

Be it known that I, FLAvIUs P. STIKER, of Buffalo, in the county ofErieand State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvemeut in theArt of Manufacturing Starch, of which the following` is a specication,ref` erence being made to the accompanying drawing.

In the manufacture of starch from grain it to is necessary to soak orsteep the grain untilit becomes soft and swollen, or in such condition.for example, that it may readily be mashed between the thumb and finger.It is not desirable, however, that its kernels be broken ordisintegrated, but merely softened. This has heretofore beenaccomplished by soaking in tepid water or other suitable liquid in openor covered vessels under ordinary atmospheric pressure. The objection tothis method is that 2o it takes a long time and is too expensive. Grainhas also been steeped under pressure in a closed vessel and agitated soas to rapidly soften and disintegrate it, making a pulpy mass ormash-as, for example, is set forth in the patent of Fox, No. 257,930.This is also very objectionable in the manufacture of starch, althoughnot objectionable for some other purposes, such as the production ofbeerwort or alcoholic mash.

3o My object is to speedily and thoroughly steep grain for themanufacture of starch without agitating it, or disintegrating it, orhighly heating it, but simply to bring it quickly to the same conditionit has after having been soaked a sufficient time in tepid water underordinary atmospheric pressure.

My improvement in the manufacture of starch therefore consists inimmersing grain in asteeping-liquor in a closed vessel and apply- 4o ingartificial pressure within the vessel to such a degree as to greatlyspeed the softening operation. The result is the grain will be quicklysteeped without disintegration, and so economically prepared withoutwaste or deterioratiou of starch-producing qualities for the subsequentsteps in the manufacture of coui- :tuercial starch. In order toaccomplish such steeping and softening most advantageously, I employ asteeping-tank of peculiar construe.- 5o tion in some respects, which Iwill describe by aid of the accompanying drawing, showing a verticalcentral section of my improved steeping-tank.

In the drawing, A indicates my improved steep-tank, preferably made ofsheet-irou; but any other material may be used which Will stand therequired pressure, which pressure may vary according to the nature.kind, and quality of grain to be steeped. This tank is preferably madecylindrical withaconical bot- 6o tom and closed top.

A indicates a manhole for introducing the grain; but any otherconvenient arrangement with a cover for closing the opening may be used.

B indicates a safety-valve of ordinary con struction, whereby any excessof pressure may be relieved.

O indicates a pressure-gage,also of ordinary construction,to indicatethe degree ofpressure. 7c

D indicates a thermometer,of ordinary construction, forindicating thetemperature of the contents ofthe tank.

E indicates a pipe, with a valve, E, for introducing the steep-liquor,or for the introduction of steam or warm air to keep up the desiredtemperature.

F indicates the outletpipawith avalve, F', for drawing off thesteep-liquor.

G indicates the discharge-valve for remov- So ing the steeped grain. l

H indicates an internal tube extending from near the top of the tank tonear its bottom, this tube being open at its top and perforated near itsbottom for obtaining a thorough circulation' of the steep liquor, whichenters through the pipe E aud passes out at the top I of the tube,causing a circulating current in the direction indicated by thearrows-that is to say, up in the interior of the tube H, in 9o whichthere is no grain, and out of its top, thence downward throughthegrainin thetank, and again through the perforatious near the bottomof the tube, thus accomplishing athoroughly even mixture with the grainin the tank.

Instead of the steep-liquor, which is usually tepid Water, air, orvarious moist gases or steam may be introduced at E for the saine Kindicates a ladder for descending into the tank, when desired, for thepurpose of cleaning or repairing it.

L L indicate stays for strengthening the tank and bracing the tube II.

M M indicate brackets resting on crossbeams or any suitable framework(not illustrated) for supporting the tank.

N indicates an opening, to which may beattached a pipe with an ordinaryvalve (not illustrated) for introducing the vfluid for causing pressure,which may be employed instead of the pipe E, if desired.

In operation it is convenient to partly fill the tank with thesteep-liquor and then introduce grain,` and then add more steep-liquorVthrough the pipe E, thus causing the desired circulation; but theoperation of filling may be varied at. will. After the man-hole has beenclosed pressure may be applied either at N or at E by means of air,sulphurous acid, carbonic acid.orothersuitablegases,oreven steam orliquids may be used for thepurpose. Pressure may also be obtained bychemical reaction insideot'thetankitself. Af'terthegrainissuftcientlysteeped, which with my apparatus will usually occupy about ten hours,more or less, the

steep-liquor is drawn oit' at F, and the steeped and softened graindischarged at G, which is an opening provided with an ordinary valve atthe bottom ot the tank. By means of this closed tank and internal tubeopen at the top, but closed against the admission of grain at thebottom, and the application of pressure by articial means thesteep-liquor is caused to more rapidly penetrate the interior of thekernels of grain, thereby greatly reducing the time required forsteeping and softening, and

also preventing the escape of unwholesonie or deleterious emanations inthe atmosphere, and preventing the disintegration of the kernels ofgrain or injury of the starch-producing qualities of the grain or Waste.

I am aware that grain has been treated in closed vessels under pressurein the presence of steam or Warm liquor-as, for example, for certainpurposes in the above-mentioned patent, which seeks to extract starchfrom grain; but such treatment is not adapted and is on the contrarydestructive in a large measure to the manufacture of commercial starch;hence What I deem to be my invention, and seek to secure by LettersPatent otl the United States, is-

l. As an improvement in the art of manufacturing starch, the method ofsteeping grain herein described, which consists inconfining it in asteeping-liquor Within a closed tank and applying artificial pressure,so as to speed# ily soften but not disintegrateit, substantially as setforth.

2. The combination, With a closed tank, A, l

provided with appliances for admitting grain,

steep-liquor, and fluids for exerting artificial pressure, of an.internal tube, H, open at its top and perforated atits bottom andarranged so as to exclude grain and aid in the circulatnion ofsteepingfluids, substantially as set orth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my naine.

FLAviUs P; sTiKER.

Witnesses:

J AMES SANGSTER, JENNIE M. CALDWELL.

